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Our Journey Path - as featured in Globe
Trekker
The Eastern Islands
The Eastern Islands, known as Nusa Tengarra, cover
only a tiny fraction of the country.
From Bali we head east to the islands of Lombok, Komodo
and Flores then north east to the Spice Islands of
Banda and Ambon, before heading south to Timor.
Java and Sumatra
Java and Sumatra are two of the largest island in Indonesia.
We start my journey in the Capital Jakarta before heading
west to volcanic Anak Krakatau. Then we visit Barabudur
and Jarva's cultural heartland Yogyakarta & Kudus.
In Sumatra our first stop is Danau Toba crater lake.
Then we meet the Orang-utans of Bukit Lawang. Our Indonesian
odyssey ends in the surfing paradise of Pulau Nias.
Bali & Sulawesi
In Bali we travel from Kuta to Ubud,
then on to the beaches at Lovina, before climbing the
volcano at Batur. Then we fly on to Ujung Pantang,
in Sulawesi, from where we travel north to end our
journey in Torajaland.
On the Road
By Bike
Motorcycles are a good way to get around. Depending upon the
size and model they cost as little as $6 US a day. Take exceptional
care - roads can be treacherous and the behaviour of other
road users erratic. Remember to fill up the tank before you
leave town, Indonesia may be one of the world’s largest
oil exporters, but gas stations as the west know them are
few and far between.
By Sea
Indonesia covers an area two and a half times the size of
Australia, yet most of it is sea. It is not surprising then
that ferries and boats are the best way to explore this part
of the world. The ferry to Lombok only costs a couple of dollars
for the six and a half hour crossing.
By Bus
Although the buses and roads are improving, they are always
crowded and it’s tiring no matter how far you are going,
so it is best not to be in a hurry.
By Air
Travelling by air in Indonesia is cheap, and if you don’t
mind old airplanes or your travel plans upset occasionally
by cancelled or overbooked flights, its convenient too. There
are hundreds of different flight routes connecting dozens
of the islands.
In Lombok
Horse drawn Chidomos are the most common and reliable
way to get around Lombok.
In Flores
Flores is full of volcanoes and vast rice terraces clinging
to the mountainsides. The 700 Kilometer Trans Flores Highway
that links the east of Flores to the west is considered a
travelers nightmare. In most places it’s more track than
road, let alone a Highway, but it will take you places you
can’t even imagine.
Travelling from Java to Sumatra
It's possible to travel overland to Sumatra from West Java.
This is a long and arduous process involving ramshackle buses,
dangerous roads and fragmented train journeys. There are also
passenger ferries from Jakarta but these are infrequent
and often uncomfortable. Easier by far is taking a plane from
one of several Javanese airports to Medan or Padang.
Travelling to Palau Nias
The biggest deterrent against a visit to Nias Island is the
sheer effort involved in getting there. There are occasional
flights with SMAC airlines but they have a bit of a
reputation as a dicy airline, rightly or wrongly. The alternative
is to travel to Sibolga (8 hours from Medan) and take
a passenger ferry to Gunung Sitoli. The ferry is extremely
basic and it takes 10 hours minimum through the night to get
there. One tip is to pay $5 to $10 US for the captain's cabin.
There are about 4 cabins available to 'rent' for the night.
When you arrive in Gunung Sitoli, you have to travel 6 hours
over incredible pot-holed roads to Teluk Dalam, where
the surfing and interesting Nias culture is situated. There
is another less frequent ferry directly to Teluk Dalam which
we advise you to take, because the road from Gunung Sitoli
is pure torture!
Travel to Bali
Garuda
Indonesia
fly direct three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays) from London Gatwick to Bangkok and
Bali. Convenient connections can also be made to Australia,
New Zealand, Singapore, the rest of Indonesia and beyond.
Garuda Indonesia offers three classes: Economy, Premium and
Executive
Premium Class benefits from business class type wider seats
and a business class type service, complemented by Garuda
Indonesia's extremely friendly and helpful staff.
Seat pitches are generous, offering 33" in Economy,
40" in Premium and 54" in Executive class, so you
can just sit back and relax..
For further details please call Reservations on 020 7467
8640 or visit their website at www.garuda-indonesia.co.uk
Garunda Indonesia Special Offers:
If you are flying from London Gatwick to Australia or New
Zealand, you may be entitled to two nights' stop-over in Bali,
free of charge!
Also, if you purchase your tickets direct from Garuda for
travel from London Gatwick to Bali in Executive or Premium
class, you are entitled to a free daytime or sunset cruise.
Executive Class passengers are entitled to a free chauffeur
drive service to and from London Gatwick Airport (within 50
miles of airport).
If flights are booked directly with Garuda in the UK, passengers
are entitled to hotel discounts in Bali.
For further details please call Reservations on 020 7467
8640 or visit their website at www.garuda-indonesia.co.uk
Garuda make travel INDONEASIER....... |
